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The nurse reviews the complete blood count (CBC) and white blood cell (WBC) differential of a patient admitted with abdominal pain. Which information will be most important for the nurse to communicate to the health care provider?

a. Monocytes 4%
b. Hemoglobin 13.6 g/dL
c. Platelet count 168,000/µL
d. White blood cells (WBCs) 15,500/µL

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The most crucial information to communicate to the healthcare provider is the elevated WBC count of 15,500/\u00b5L, which suggests an infection or inflammation and necessitates further examination, especially given the patient's abdominal pain symptoms.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most important information to communicate to the health care provider when reviewing a complete blood count (CBC) and white blood cell (WBC) differential for a patient admitted with abdominal pain is d. White blood cells (WBCs) 15,500/\u00b5L.

A normal healthy range for WBCs is typically 3.5 to 11 x 10⁹ cells/L. In this patient's case, the WBC count of 15,500/\u00b5L reflects a significant increase above the upper limit of the normal range. This can indicate an infection or inflammatory process within the body, which is consistent with the symptom of abdominal pain. An elevated WBC count warrants further investigation and management by the healthcare team.

Other values such as monocytes 4%, hemoglobin 13.6 g/dL, and platelet count 168,000/\u00b5L, although important, do not stand out in the context of the acute presentation as much as an elevated WBC count does in suggesting an active infection or inflammation.

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